The first single, “Vilify,” was released online Feb. 19 and features a very predictable formula that felt like business as usual for Disturbed which left me wondering: Had I clicked on the wrong song? Was Device just an illusion?

I broke down and bought the album out of morbid curiosity.

I assumed it would either impress the hell out of me with a sound resembling that of the industrial gods Nine Inch Nails or make me cringe like Korn’s dubstep catastrophe.

As the album played, I was neither impressed nor disgusted. I was bored. I was under the impression Draiman was going to venture out, that Device was just a new outlet for his creativity — but I was flat out bored.

The only thing saving Device from being utterly forgettable and incredibly generic were the various collaborations throughout the album.

I skipped through tracks like “Hunted” and “War of Lies” because of the repetitiveness and lack of exploration. The rest of the tracks that were strictly Device didn’t push the envelope in any way and frankly are not worth mentioning.

With that being said, tracks like “Out of Line” (feat. Serj and Geezer) and “Close My Eyes Forever” (feat. Lzzy) were dynamic and innovative.

Serj never disappoints. His signature vocals shone through this track with his politically heavy lyrics.

Draiman and Lzzy’s vocals blend together effortlessly throughout the Lita Ford/Ozzy Osbourne cover.

Her flawless voice complements Draiman so well that it’s the only thing that made the album worth buying.